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"My feeling is that we should vote against this measure," said Delphine Cathcart, a voter who listened to the hour-long debate. "We have very good government right now. It’s delivering services, it’s delivering progress, it’s delivering jobs and it’s delivering safety to us."

While Mayor Kevin Johnson was not there to argue for the measure that goes before voters this November, his chief of staff, Daniel Conway, was in attendance.

"We now have [a measure] that is more comprehensive and thoughtful, and frankly, just reflects the priorities and the needs of Sacramento," Conway said.

Arguing against the measure was current City Councilman Steve Hansen.

"Putting all the power in the mayor’s office is not the answer," Hansen told the crowd. "The argument used to be, we need this measure because the system is broken. And now that [it] is working well, they say it can work better. So I don’t quite understand why we should change it."

Measure L, if approved by voters, would give the mayor more executive power.

They mayor would be able to hire and fire the city manager, create budgets and hold veto power.

The measure also would create advisory committees for neighborhood interests as well as an ethics committee that would focus on transparency.

Under the rule, the council would require a 75 percent vote to veto or stop the mayor.